Hot Topics:

Four Lafayette schools to explore extended learning time

BVSD among Colorado districts chosen to study longer school days

By Amy Bounds Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
12/04/2012 06:49:53 PM MST

Updated:
12/04/2012 06:50:53 PM MST

University of Colorado sophomore Caitlyn Hubbard listens as second grader Amy Salazar reads a book she created on Tuesday at Sanchez Elementary in Lafayette. Hubbard participates in the Dragon Discovery Program, an extended school day program. The school is one of four in Boulder Valley that is experimenting with longer learning time.
(
JEREMY PAPASSO
)

Four of Boulder Valley's six schools in Lafayette are taking part in a five-state experiment to study longer school days so researchers can determine whether more time in school means higher success for students.

Boulder Valley educators have talked for several years about giving students more time as a way to reduce the achievement gap for low-income and minority students. Taking part in this initiative, said Assistant Superintendent Sandy Ripplinger, gives the district access to what's happening in other schools nationwide and time to study it.

"We know that all students can learn, but some need more time," she said Tuesday. "That can mean before school, after school, a longer school year or summer programs. We want to look at what's most effective and what works in different school settings. This gives us that opportunity."

Altogether, nine schools in four Denver-area school districts will share $1 million from the nonprofit Ford Foundation and the National Center on Time and Learning.

The money, divided over three years, will go to schools in Boulder Valley, Adams County, Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County. In Boulder Valley, the four participating schools are Angevine Middle, Centaurus High and Pioneer and Sanchez elementaries.

Once programs are launched, student achievement also will be watched to gauge whether more time in math and reading -- as well as art and other cultural activities -- boosts grades and test scores.

At Centaurus -- the only high school participating in the pilot -- Principal Rhonda Haniford said the school agreed to spend a year exploring how to engage its students in an eight-hour day of academics and activities.

Many students already fully participate in classes and activities that keep them in school for at least eight hours. But for those who don't, the school wants to encourage them to take advantage of what Centaurus offers.

"We are open to adding additional classes and activities that students are interested in so that they are more engaged in school," Haniford said. "If, at the end of this exploration, we decide that we do not want to move forward, we will pull out of the grant."

While Centaurus is at the exploration stage, Sanchez Elementary already is offering an extended day.

Starting last school year, students began participating in afterschool "Dragon Discovery" enrichment activities that range from hip-hop dance to intensive, small group work with literacy specialists. Homework help from tutors is another option. The program is offered Monday through Thursday.

The school added time by setting up a staggered start for literacy and English-as-a-second language teachers, allowing some to start later and stay later.

The students who are the farthest behind in literacy are chosen for the extended day literacy groups, essentially giving them an extra 26 days of school. The school also added 10 minutes overall to its instructional day by making small tweaks to its schedule.

Enrichment activities are provided by volunteers and community partner organizations and paid for through a federal 21st Century Learning grant that's set to expire in a year-and-half.

Principal Doris Candelarie said the grant money will allow Sanchez to collaborate with other schools to explore the best ways to set up extended learning time -- and how to pay for it.

"We're really excited about the opportunity to network with other schools in Colorado," she said. "This is one more thing we can do to provide our students with learning opportunities beyond the school day."

Local duo joining overseas exhibition excursionFilippo Swartz went to Italy, where his mother was born and he spent the first year or so of his life, every summer until he had to stick around to be a part of summer football activities for the Longmont High School team. Full Story

MacIntyre says the completed project will be best in Pac-12There were bulldozers, hard hats, mud, concrete trucks, blueprints, mud, cranes, lots of noise and, uh, mud, during the last recruiting cycle when Colorado football coach Mike MacIntyre brought recruits to campus. Full Story

Most people don't play guitar like Grayson Erhard does. That's because most people can't play guitar like he does. The guitarist for Fort Collins' Aspen Hourglass often uses a difficult two-hands-on-the-fretboard technique that Eddie Van Halen first popularized but which players such as Erhard have developed beyond pop-rock vulgarity.
Full Story